Decommissioning and remediation of the Pinchi Lake Mine

• Main Authors: Donald, Bruce, Unger, Michelle, Marsland, Rob
• Other Authors: British Columbia Mine Reclamation Symposium, University of British Columbia. Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Mercury; Methyl mercury; First Nations; Closure plan; Cap
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/45311

The Pinchi Lake Mine was owned and operated by Cominco Ltd. which was the predecessor of Teck Metals Ltd. (Teck) from 1940 to 1944, and again between 1968 and 1975. The property is located approximately 25 km northwest of Fort St James, British Columbia. After 1975, the mine was under care and maintenance with the surface facilities remaining intact. Beginning in 1996 Teck undertook a series of aquatic and terrestrial studies to determine potential impacts to the ecology of Pinchi Lake, upland portions of the mine site, and surrounding lands. In 2004 a Technical Working Group was formed, consisting of representatives from Teck, the Tl’azt’en Nations, and the Nak’azdli Band, which reviewed the studies and commissioned additional studies. Results from the environmental studies assisted in developing the Pinchi Lake Closure Plan and finalizing remediation activities. This paper discusses the scope of the reclamation plan, schedule and activities completed at the Pinchi Mine site. In 2010 the site still had all of the surface facilities intact from the 1970s operations including a surface crusher, a mill with conventional grinding and flotation circuits, a mercury roaster, and a tailings impoundment facility. The paper discusses the works undertaken to decommission and reclaim the site. The primary objectives of the site were to physically and chemically stabilize the site, and to restore it to a state where there are no unacceptable risks to the wildlife or people using the site and surrounding areas. Non UBC Unreviewed Other